TO THÉ FOR ME.

Suete Nichtingale in holene[1523] grene that han[ts]
To sport thy-self, and speciall in the spring,
Thy chivring chirlis[1524], vhilks changinglie thou [chants,]
Maks all the roches round about thé ring;
Vhilk slaiks my sorou, so to heir thé sing,
And lights my louing langour at the leist;
Yit, thoght[1525] thou sees not, sillie, saikles[1526] thing!
The piercing pykis brods[1527] at thy bony breist[1528].
Euin so am I, by plesur lykuyis preist[1529],
In gritest danger vhair I most delyte.
Bot since thy song for shoring[1530] hes not ceist
Suld feble I for feir my conqueis quyt[1531]?
Na, na,—I love thé, freshest Phœnix fair!
In beuty, birth, in bounty but compair[1532].

William Hodge & Co., Printers, Glasgow

ABBOTSFORD SERIES OF THE SCOTTISH POETS.

Edited by GEORGE EYRE-TODD.

Bound in cloth, crown 8vo., 3s. 6d. each volume.

A limited number of copies printed on large antique paper,
Roxburgh binding, price 5s. nett.

This series is intended to reproduce in popular form the best Works of the Scottish Poets, from the earliest times onwards; and it is hoped within a moderate number of volumes to furnish a comprehensive library of the Poetry of Scotland.

No liberties whatever are taken with the texts, which are edited from the best editions, and furnished with necessary introductions and glossaries.

The first three volumes of the series are now ready:—

EARLY SCOTTISH POETRY: Thomas the Rhymer, John Barbour, Androw of Wyntoun, and Henry the Minstrel.

MEDIÆVAL SCOTTISH POETRY: James I. of Scotland, Robert Henryson, William Dunbar, and Gavin Douglas.

SCOTTISH POETRY OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY: Sir David Lyndsay, John Bellenden, James V., Sir Richard Maitland, Alexander Scot, and Alexander Montgomerie.

The following volume is in preparation:—

SCOTTISH BALLAD POETRY: The best historical, legendary, and imaginative ballads of Scotland.

The particulars of succeeding volumes will be afterwards announced.

PRESS OPINIONS.

EARLY SCOTTISH POETRY.

A good service is being done to Scottish literature by Mr. Eyre-Todd in his “Abbotsford Series” of reprints. His introductory essays show learning, insight, and critical ability, while the discrimination exercised in his treatment of the text is excellent.—A valuable acquisition to the student’s library.—Daily Chronicle.

Should possess great interest for all lovers of poetry. The volume fills what appears to be a gap in the ranks of our published books of to-day.—Graphic.

The first instalment of the Abbotsford Series is full of promise.—Athenæum.

What Mr. Eyre-Todd has undertaken has been carried out in a manner deserving of the highest praise. Such a beginning promises well for this “Abbotsford Series,” which, when the volumes already announced have appeared, will have gone a long way towards supplying a “comprehensive library of the Poetry of Scotland.”—Glasgow Herald.

This first volume will be welcomed as a praiseworthy effort to open up what is to all but scholars a new field of literary interest.—British Weekly.

It is a gratifying sign of the interest still taken in our early poetry that an attempt is made in so praiseworthy a form as this to attract a wider circle of readers to their study.... Everyone who has the best interests of literature at heart will wish them success.—Scotsman.

Everyone must give a hearty welcome to this new venture to bring the best portions of Scottish Poetry within the reach of all. We hope not a few teachers will have the courage to introduce one of the volumes into their higher classes alongside of Chaucer, who has hitherto been dominant, much to the loss of our home literature.—Aberdeen Journal.

MEDIÆVAL SCOTTISH POETRY.

We trust that Mr. Eyre-Todd may be encouraged to proceed with this Abbotsford Series of the Scottish Poets, for the two volumes which he has already published make it abundantly clear that he possesses the requisite knowledge, taste, insight, and critical skill necessary to the successful accomplishment of so difficult a task.—The Speaker.

We can strongly recommend Mr. Eyre-Todd’s “Mediæval Scottish Poetry” as a work creditable alike to himself and to his publisher.—Literary Opinion.

“Mediæval Scottish Poetry” is a meritorious and a welcome popularisation of some of the best examples of our fifteenth century verse.—Scottish Leader.

This volume more than fulfils the promise of the first.—Modern Church.

The second volume of Mr. Eyre-Todd’s “Abbotsford Series” amply fulfils the promise of the earlier instalment, as regards all that the editor himself could be responsible for.—Glasgow Herald.

The editor has done his work wonderfully well, and, considering the aim of the series, with perfect thoroughness.—Freeman’s Journal.

A useful little volume of selections from the Mediæval Poetry of Scotland.—Daily News.

This series is a most excellent one, and its production deserves every encouragement. It promises to be a permanent addition to the very few works we have which deal with Scottish poetical literature as a literature; and one speciality in it worthy of all praise is the concise and scholarly way in which the editing has been done.—Aberdeen Daily Free Press.

The editor’s work is well and conscientiously done.—British Weekly.

GLASGOW: WILLIAM HODGE & CO.